The Sweet Life of A Billionaire's Baby

A couple of weeks ago Your Mama discussed the John Bersci designed residence that writer/executive producer Aaron Sorkin recently scooped up for $6,100,000 and in that little discussion we casually mentioned a Bird Street property that was being sold to a billionaire's daughter. Remember that children? One of Your Mama's knowledgeable sources, a chatty gentleman who calls himself The Property Pimp, revealed to us that he'd heard through the Hollywood Hills gossip grapevine that a glitzy and glassy Steve Hermann designed house on Nightingale Drive was being sold at an astronomical and record breaking price to the daughter of a big name California billionaire.

So naturally and immediately Your Mama got on the horn with a few more well placed and in the know sources and sho' enuf, Miss Megan Ellison, the young and rumored lezbeeun daughter of multi-billionaire software tycoon Larry Ellison, did indeed drop a record breaking and jaw dropping $12,600,000 for a 3 bedroom and 4 bathroom contemporary confection on Nightingale Drive overlooking the glittering carpet of lights of West Hollywood all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Now children, Your Mama truly does not care a lick whether young Miss Megan is a ladee lover or not. The Gurl can kiss on and fool with whomever she wants as far as we're concerned. What Your Mama does care about is her apparent access to Big Daddy Ellison's unfathomably deep pockets and, yes, we confess, the enviable perks of being a beloved baby of a billionaire.

If Your Mama had $12,600,000 of our Momma's money to spend on a new crib in Tinseltown–and we don't–this would certainly not be our first choice for a home. We are none the less cowed by its uniquely Los Angeles architectural decadence. We're sure some of you snotty Jealouseenas will call little Miss Megan an unworthy and spoiled rich gurl. Or worse. But Your mama asks that you think about this before gettin' all righteous: Iffin your daddy had twenty six billion bucks, wouldn't you let him buy you an obscenely expensive house? Be honest. That's right. Don't give Your Mama any of this "I'd rather work for what I have" bullshit because we know that given the opportunity, few of you would actually refuse to let your Big Daddy write that check.

Miss Megan's new digs have been for sale quite some time and although the listing information we received from Jim Nasium indicates the asking price and the sale price were the same ($12,600,000), Your Mama remembers this house was priced just over $10,000,000 in the fall of 2007. Or somewhere around ten million. Our feeble mind can hardly remember yesterday, so it certainly fails to recall the exact asking price from all those months ago.

Some of you people who are television freaks like Your Mama might remember this house was featured in The Spice Gurl's Coming to America "reality" show special. Miz Spice toured this house on her little program during her search for appropriately expensive and lavish real estate in which house her stud huzband and three children. As we (and The Property Pimp) recall, Miz Spice joked about the narrow and rail-less terrace at the rear of the property where one could too easy tumble over the sheer cliff as a result of a broken heel or one too many gin and tonics.

Developer Steve Hermann, the man responsible for the somewhat cliché and obviously designed to impress house, is well known for transforming ordinary properties in the Hollywood Hills into slick, sexy, and pricey pads. His many projects include the Devlin Drive house durty mommy Christina Aguilera called home until she and huzband Jordan Bratman recently decamped to the more family friendly Ozzy Osbourne mansion on Doheny Road in Bev Hills.

As far as we know, nobody actually lived in this house after the full scale renovation, so what we see in the photos is likely the work of a property stager with a big budget and knack for modern day-core. Or maybe, as a reader notes, it's the handiwork of Mister Hermann himself. Although it's not Your Mama and the Dr. Cooter's cup or interior design, it's admittedly quite lovely in that somewhat sterile W Hotel sort of way. What would be interesting to see is how a house like this adapts to and accommodates the personal possessions of the owner. A few books here and there, some well chosen and high-priced knick knacks from dee-luxe trips to exotic locations, Jo Malone and Keihl's lotions and potions spread across the bathroom counter tops just might work in turning this souless hotel like environment into a place to call home.

Although Your Mama and the Dr. Cooter's house gurl Svetlana would probably lose her damn mind like that poor Britney Spears trying to keep all that floor to ceiling glass free of dog nose streaks, the spine tingling fabulousity of the view is truly undeniable. As some of you architectural crazies likely do too, Your Mama notes the fully glazed prow-like living/dining/kitchen space references and pays loving homage to architect Pierre Koenig's Case Study House #22, his soo-blime tour de force widely known as the Stahl House.

Now then, let's discuss the swimming pool located in the courtyard at the center of the house. It certainly is something, isn't it? In a twisted sort of way, Your Mama likes that there are enough benches and cushions surrounding the perimeter of the courtyard that a large crowd can comfortably watch Miss Megan as she dips into her petite pool and relaxes in her spa. But to be honest, this pool area looks a little too much like the sort of "sexy" set up Mid-Western house fraus and their middle management huzbands eagerly expect to find on a Carnival cruise ship. We can perhaps live with that unfortunate association, but what we find most bothersome here is that the big view over the city can not be enjoyed while dipping in the waters and sunbathing in the nood.

Miss Megan's new neighbors include screenwriter Russell Gerwitz (Inside Man) just dumped $3,600,000 of his new found riches on a house around the corner. Real People co-host turned media mogul Byron Allen, owns but does not live in the Steve Hermann designed home next door, and up the street on Nightingale Drive is Nebil Zarif, the wine making father of Hollywood scion/club denizen/lay about Brandon Davis. Los Angeles based fashion designer Nabeel Jaber (Lords) recently paid $3,225,000 for his new Nightingale Drive digs, and property records also reveal that investment banker Ken Rickel, who happens to be Brandon Davis' step-daddy, also recently dropped a wad of cash for a house on Nightingale Drive. We can't imagine why Mister Rickel would buy the somewhat modest house because he reportedly lives at Lionsgate, the massive (and for sale) Bel Air estate that belongs to his West Coast socialite wifey Nancy Davis, who is of course the daughter of dead billionaire and Hollywood mogul Marvin Davis.

Oh children, Your Mama does go on and on today, but our mind is mush and sometimes we just can't help but to ramble. Don't like it? Too bad. We don't want to hear about it neither so go whine and complain to someone else.

P.S. We are swooning over the screening room. That is a home thee-ay-ter Your Mama could easily settle into.

72 comments:

pch
said...

A middling design -- but leaning toward good, rather than bad, so I'll count blessings. A few weird elements...all those recessed lights say airport lounge or performing arts center lobby. And the altar-like jacuzzi in the middle of the pool looks like it's used to sacrifice virgins.

The price is, of course, completely nuts. The house right next door is/was on the market for $7 million, and has what I consider a much more desirable shallow-but-wide building pad.

I have been inside the house... and truthfully... it is STUNNING! Beautiful materials. Only drawback... no real backyard... but the view is phenomenal! A real WOW of a price! Even I'm surprised by that one.

i remember when this house first hit the market, i think i cried. 13 foot ceilings, over 50% glass walls, poiliform kitchen, terazzo throughout, and, of course, the view.strange that it sold for the original asking price though, it dropped to 10.6 at one point, and later to 9.9, so i'm not sure why someone would voluntarily pay the original price.As far as the furnishings are concerned, it's not a stager, hermann does the furnishings himself, and the purchase price usually includes said items.here's a listing when it was at 10.6:http://www.dreamhomesmagazine.com/Home125694.htmlalso, if you want more info on hermann:http://stevehermannesign.comunder the press section, there's a ten minute video of steve highlighting the entire house for beautiful homes and great estates

I just can't understand why people would want to live in a fishbowl of a house where people can see you sleeping and picking your nose in front of the TV. I'd hate living behind those glass walls for all the world to see my bizsnatch.

Why the hell has she paid $12M+ ... It was on at $9,995,000 for quite sometime ... Anyway, I like the house architecture BUT the interiors are not all that nice ... It's to stylised which I don't appreciate, think it's a common trait of Hermann ... Just look at the Christina Aguilera place - it's vile, looks like somewhere Austin Powers would live! The view here is amazing, the floors are beautiful, the screening room is great but the rest of the place isn't quite up to it ... There are far nicer homes for similar prices ...

Actually, the Steve Hermann next door (9262 Nightingale) is only owned by Byron Allen, he doesn't actually live there, and it's been on the market for about a year and a half. It is, however, absolutely freaking gorgeous.

I think the Byron Allen house next door(9262 Nightingale) is also way overpriced too. I think that's why it's been on the market for a year now. It's a very nice house. But for 7 million dollars, it is a bit much for a house that doesn't have a single bath tub in any of the bathrooms. The master bedroom is a liitle small too. If anything I would say it's worth about $5Mill.

Not bad; a little sterile, as Mama said, but most architects who furnish their own designs tend toward style more than comfort. Even Frank Lloyd Wright confessed he was constantly "black & blue" from contact with his self designed furniture.

Filled with some personal items, it might come across as a warmer abode than it does in these photos.

Although I can sympathize with those not wanting to live in a "fishbowl", it does appear that most of the public rooms are fairly private; however, what appears to be a guest room shows clearly a view of many homes across the valley. I would NOT want to be a guest in that room, where every little fart and scratch is on lurid 13-foot display.

I'll balance that out by saying I too LOVE the home theatre.

Finally, that pool . . .

It looks like some kind of corporate retreat where you'd be trapped listening to Tony Robbins dither on and on about personal motivation . . .

However nice the house and location are, $12.6M is still way TOO much for this architectural gem.

I've seen this house on 9258 as well. It's very nice but to me the BIG turnoff were the guest bedrooms I didn't really dig the "integrated bathroom/bedroom" concept. I think the bathroom area should be completely private from the bedroom and you shouldn't be able to see thru it.

I like Steve Hermann's work but I personally think the Xorin Balbes designed home, the next block over on Swallow Drive is better. Though it doesn't have killer views, it's still an awesome, serene feeling house and it was sold at a decent price for $5.8mill.

I guess if I could decorate it in my own taste and my Daddy had bought it for me I would be very happy there.It may or my not be overpriced but when you have that much money you have to spend a certain amount every year anyway.I say spend,spend,spend keep the economy going.

I seldom use this expression to describe homes, but... WOW! This house is amazing despite its present lack of soul. The right designer could turn the current first class waiting lounge at Heathrow look into something very comfortable. I would hope Miss L-word finds it in her heart to hook up with someone I know to place good art throughout the home. Now, about that sacrificial alter in the pool... WTF is that?

As much as I love modern/post-modern/mid-century modern /"moe-durn" homes, this one leaves me cold. Aside from my professed disdain for copious recessed lighting, this just looks like a series of shoe boxes. Perhaps I'd have to actually visit it in order to appreciate why it is so special as to command a $12MM price tag, but until that time, I declare that the empress has raided DSW.

I LOVE THE BEDROOM WINDOW! I LOVE THE LIVING ROOM WINDOWS! This house is making me feel all Shane McCutcheon! ok, i'll stop shouting. i for one would LOVE to waltz in and casually plop my Poquito Mas bag, mail and pink blackberry pearl on the counter after hanging up on someone after yelling, "WHATEVER!!" on the counter in that kitchen then trapse on over to the media room with my pink lemonade snapple and get my Tyra on. I would hire a housekeeper named Ines. I would walk around naked and blast Nina Simone. I would plant lots of succulents outside. I would smoke Parliaments in the shallow end of the pool. I would be happy here.

l.o.r.d. have mercy, when my husband Heather Po comes home i am going to hook up a projector to the laptop and splash these images and view on the walls of our post colonial McLean 3 bedroom.

then i will superimpose papa dick's image--complete with hunting gear--in a constellation pattern embedded in the bedroom window view of LA, and i will have Heather take me from behind as we both slowly recite the bill of rights.

I can see why you prefer this house; for me it's a toss up, but then I live in the Northeast - outdoor living is a whole different experience, being seasonal.

PCH, took a look at the house next door; perhaps I need to see different pictures because the facade just didn't do it for me. Nice, but kinda bland. Perhaps it's the views as well as the size of the building pad?

BK, whatever gave you the idea I could possibly be HCLD in the first place? Hold on to your fantasies for Babe Parish . . .

You got it, LGB -- I was thinking of the property next door purely in teardown terms. In my opinion, it's a better lot, and a much better value (a relative term if ever there were one) should the buyer be willing to riff on the current house or build something new.

And an aside, our speculators with that $22.5 million house on Mapleton have suffered a potential setback in their quest for full asking price...the lot directly across Charing Cross just came on the market at $15 million. Fifty percent more land (almost 1.5 acres), an existing tennis court and more level frontage on Mapleton.

The reason why the house sold for the $12,000,000 price tag was due to the "off-market/pocket listing" sale of Tobey Maguire's house on Thrasher. That house set a new record up there... and this one just topped it.

The Xorin Balbes house was the METROPOLITAN Magazine "Home of the year"... and it too is a stunning house... but absolutely no view. If it had a view... it would have sold months ago and for far more $$$.

Alessandra dear you are so right about the recessed lighting problem,and it is a problem.For the most part it should only be used in retail and office spaces. Having said that I find myself liking this house very much despite the coke dealer decor.I even think it's quite sexy,a word I almost never use!

I had the best morning after seeing these pics and reading Mama's Ricky Martin post with her references to his "bon bon".

The post stated that the house may have been staged and I for one don't need Roger Hazard, Tanya Memme or anyone to make me see the bones of this house are like Catherine F'n Deneuve in my book. When I look at the pic of the exterior I hear that menacing Charlie's Angels jingle...you know the one they played right before the commercial when Kelly and Sabrina find out Boz has been kidnapped. I envision myself, all holed up in there sittin' around with Cat Power and Vincent Gallo. Of course Vincent is crabby because Chan and I aren't including him as much as he'd like...

Now don't get me wrong, I very well could get all Greystone Mansion on everyone, but for some reason those windows/views really hit my architectural g-spot.

Barran Karen blasted here 2/2. No offense to the "family" but i'm not looking for "family" here. mine is crazy enough. I'm not even looking for friends, thank you very much. Then why does Karen hit on anything that moves but has nothing to add on blog focus?

Does anyone see a problem here with the well known selling agent, Kurt Rappaport getting his client to pay full price (almost $3M more than what this house was offered for not long ago)?????

It seems that he, and several other agent big wigs almost always have their clients pay full asking price. You're telling me this house couldn't be bought for $10M???? PLEASE. Even if I'm a billionaire, I still want someone I hire to negotiate for me, not against me because I'm rich already!

On another note, this house is very cold... the guest bedrooms are small, there's no backyard, the pool in the middle is almost out of place (how do you build a place like this without an infinity?), and this house is ALL living room and master bedroom. I'll take it... for $8M please.

I especially love how your moniker honors the indomitable Sister Parish; anyone old enough to remember when Jackie Kennedy hired her to help redecorate the White House and all the papers were in an uproar - "Jackie Hires Nun To Decorate White House!"

Got to see her work firsthand at Greentree; she was unparalleled at making even the most outsize space seem homey and inviting.

Just because someone overpays for something either due to stupidity or having too much money does not necessarily mean that said item was not overpriced to begin with...and I can tell you must be full of lesbian love, because you never have anything but hetero bile for your dear bigdaddy, such a shame, everytime I see your name I picture Rashida Jones (aka "Karen") from "the Office" sitting alone on the couch, crying while hugging a picture of the baby she'll never have because she's barren...LOL

fyi, i've found that just skipping over LGB's posts all together works GREAT. i just don't take all his mawkish, "i need attention, abandoned by my natural parents so YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO ME PRECOSIUS VIBE" personally and the site is now cool to me again

tho, grrrr Bentley, i wanna be around you with some scotch and your belt unbuckled ...

I know this may not seem right but to fall asleep in that bedroom, with the city at your feet, I'd spend all my free time in there with a glass of decent red wine with my feet comfortably stretched out. What a sweetly wonderful and dramatic view. Okay that's the tourist in me. I'm done!PeaceJoel

house next door for 7,000,000 is now being marketed as a "tear down".. wealthy latin boy is building an 11,000 sq ft (no height restrictions at the end of street) house, but views are "stretched"but he is not holding back with mummmys money.. what I don't get about the 12,500,000 house is why the "maids" pool, just like the $9,600,000 sale on blue jay all the money and someone cannot afford to spend the $300,000 to build the owner a pool , these pools on the sides of these houses without views, makes no sense to me

^^ "maid's pool"... LOL I was thinking the same thing about both houses. The only thing is, the Blue Jay Way house, aside from having no infinity pool, is a dream house. The Nightingale house is boring and has no feeling... the buyer completely overpaid

Jeez dude, try going out with real people on Sat. night instead of your blog comment lovers. 10 out of the last 17 comments in this thread alone, including comments from the middle of the freaking night.

You can sometimes be funny and insightful, but you're also a little like that frustrating guy at last night's dinner party that just wouldn't stop talking.

Sorry, I had to say it. My opinion doesn't matter to you or your "fans", and that's fine. but I'm clearly not alone in my thinking here.

If you're going to be the king of the comments, which you obviously want to be whether you'll confess to it or not, well, then sometimes you're going to draw some fire and vitriol from the other less dominating dinner guests who find you tedious.

As for the house? it needs an overhaul but it's a good house in a great location. Malibu isn't for everyone. and thank god it ain't for LGB. He can have his North Shore Whitney estates or whatever historic Long Island place he likes to go on about. We're just just sure all those gold coast blue bloods just love his striving about as much as I do.

Bentley---I'm sure your wife, and mom of your beautiful family, would be hurt by that slut's offer. Buy your Mrs. some lovely roses "for no reason" and ignore the fringe element who baited you here. You know it deep down because you're a good guy.